The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-07


have been the minister of a churcl
in the north of London for many years
and having come from a quiet country
parish, knew little of the tricks of the
begging trade. ! had been here only ;
few months when woman called OF
me in a state of great restitution, hav
ing walked from Chelsea without break
fast, and with only little bread the
day before. She coolly told me she haC
lived in my district four years ago, anC
sat under my ministry and enjoyed il
greatly. | had only said l did not know
her. when she interrupted me, assuring
me was mistaken: had often been in
her house, seeing her poor dear mother
when she was dying, etc. was in nc
danger of giving her any thing; she
made no pretensiOn other than that OF
relying on her own assurance to over
reach me.
A little more skill was displayed by
a man who called-by design, doubt.
less-when was out, and was seen by
my wife. He had been dreadfully bit
ten in the leg by ferocious dog, was
to get into a hospital the next day, but
had not a copper for food or bed for the
night. While he spoke, by a conven-
lent arrangement of his trousers-leg
the awful wound was disclosed to view.
Ladies' are always nervous nowadays,
and one can easily imagine how effect
ual such a trick as this must be. The
first coin that can be got hold of is
thrust into his hand, and, with a sigh
of relief, the possible victim of hydro
phobia is hustled out at the door. |
heard of him several days after, still
telling the same tale, but not just ready
10 90 into the hospital.
But the art in many cases reaches a
far higher mark than this. The plot is
so constructed by the adept as to prove
inquiry to be quite unnecessary, and
difficult or impossible. One Sunday
evening in August, 1879. when service
was over, found young man of about
seventeen years, surrounded by several
members of the congregation, waiting
to see me. He had arrived Just as |
was entering the pulpit, and requested
the officer to hand up to me a note,
asking me to intimate, that if Mrs.
Macfarlane from Newcastle was in the
church, friend wished particularly to
see her at the end of the service.
The officer declined to give me this
note, but asked the lad to wait and see
me. He was of medium stature, sharp
and intelligent features, and, in speak
ing, used some Scotch words and pro-
nunciations, but with an English tone
He was in sad fix; had come from Ed
inburgh, where he was employed in a
large printing establishment, to see an
aunt in Newcastle; found she had come
TO London, leaving no address. but
telling one of her neighbors that she
would attend my church. He had spent
all he had with him on his railway fare
having no doubt that he would easily
find her, and here he stood penniless,
four hundred miles from home Great
was the sympathy of the friends whom
found standing around him. One old
Scotch gentleman was ready to give
him as much as would take him back
to Edinburgh; and a poor widow offered
him bed and board till next day.
took him home to supper, and sub
jected him to a severe examination.
having some knowledge of the Modern
Athens. l found that he knew all about
it, could name number of its leading
men. and especially of its ministers.
He spoke of having been connected
with the Carrubber's Close Mission,
and deportcd himself in every respect
as such a person should. His speech.
however, was the one difficulty could
not get over; it was like the attempt of
4 Cockney to speak Scotch. and would
doubtless succeed with listener who
had not lived in Scotland. He said he
had money in the savings-bank; that
the good woman with whom he lodged
would be ready to answer for his
1aS-aSSNN anu hC NOulNl Scuu hudlSNer
was advanced to him as soon as he got
home.
On Monday, having slept at the house
of the widow, he came to breakfast
with me, spoke of religious matters
fluently at table, and continued in all
things TO meet the demands of the most
suspicious. l got his landlady's address,
told him to GO down to the docks and
see if he could get passage cheaply in
the Carron Company's steamer, and
return in the afternoon. He agreed to
do so, and was thankful for the sug-
gestion, as his trip had already cost
more than he intended to spend or could
well afford. 1 telegraphed to the adj
dress he had given me, but got no reply;
and he never returned. / found he had
gone round to the poor widow and bor-
.rowed small sum from her has he
passed.
Six months afterwards / saw letter
in a newspaper warning ministers
against the arts of this same youth, and
narrating this same tale. He was look
ing for his fugitive aunt in the churches
of the midland counties, and probably